While a win against Wake Forest would have guaranteed the North Carolina women’s soccer seniors another home game, Sunday’s 2-1 loss will make it difficult for the Tar Heels to earn home-field advantage in next weekend’s ACC tournament.
No. 10 UNC lost to No. 13 Wake Forest in a close contest for sole possession of third place in the ACC.
Strong play by Wake Forest players on both ends of the pitch made it difficult for UNC to execute its game plan.
In the 25th minute, a fast break goal by Wake Forest forward Katie Stengel gave the Demon Deacons a lead they would not relinquish.
“I told the kids that if we give her two shots, she’s going to score on one of them,” coach Anson Dorrance said. “That really put us behind the eight ball.”
On the other end, Wake Forest goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe gobbled up numerous crosses and frustrated the Tar Heel attackers.
“I don’t think we challenged her enough,” said Summer Green, who scored UNC’s only goal of the day. “I also think she did really well because she came out on all the crosses.”
The inability to create offensively kept the Tar Heels down 1-0 at halftime.
Early in the second half, a goal by Wake Forest’s Annick McBryar off a corner nearly put the game away.